United's stars take time out to visit Rocky steps

• zocoss

  7 May 10, 12:05

  Manchester United announce details of pre-season tour of North America

  • United's first game comes one day after World Cup final
  • Five games in three countries scheduled in a fortnight

  

  Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher are among the Manchester United players likely to take part in their pre-season tour of North America. Photograph: Mike Egerton/Empics

   

   

  Manchester United are to start their build-up to the 2010-11 season the day after the World Cup final, when they meet Celtic in Toronto in the first fixture of a three-country tour of North America.

  After a short training camp in Chicago, base of their new shirt sponsors Aon, United will head for Canada to play the Scottish league runners-up on 12 July. They then face Philadelphia Union on 21 July, Kansas City Wizards four days later and an MLS all-stars team at the Reliant Stadium in Houston on 28 July. They will then travel to Mexico for the opening of Chivas' new 45,000-seat stadium in Guadalajara on 30 July, a game that they committed to as part of the agreement that will take the Mexican striker Javier Hernández to Old Trafford.

  Although none of the players travelling to the World Cup are expected to be involved, the remainder of United's first-team squad – including Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Antonio Valencia, John O'Shea, Edwin van der Sar, Dimitar Berbatov and, depending on his fitness as he recovers from a hamstring injury, Michael Owen – will be in the touring party.

  "It is great to be going back to North America," said Ferguson. "I enjoyed the last two tours there immensely. The quality of the facilities are outstanding and there is a real enthusiasm in the crowds."

   

   

   

  Manchester United's pre-season tour of North America
  

  Celtic v Manchester United 16 July, Rogers Centre, Toronto

   

  Philadelphia Union v Manchester United 21 July, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

  Kansas City Wizards v Manchester United 25 July, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas

  MLS All-Stars v Manchester United 28 July, Reliant Stadium, Houston

  Chivas v Manchester United 30 July, Guadalajara, Mexico

• zocoss

  21 Jul 10, 12:55

  Manchester United are a knockout in Philadelphia! Sir Alex Ferguson's stars take time out to visit Rocky steps
  

   

  

  United they stand: The squad pose on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

   

  Manchester United's star players paid homage to a piece of film history on their summer tour of the United States.

  The United squad posed at the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, known as the 'Rocky Steps' as a result of their appearance in the memorable Oscar winning film and four of its sequels.

  The players looked to be in good spirits in Philadelphia, with Portuguese star Nani obviously a big fan of the film as he tried to recreate Rocky's famous pose. He also received what can only be described as a low blow from goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

  The original film Rocky captured the hearts of millions. It told the rags to riches story of Rocky Balboa, a club fighter who is given a chance of winning the world heavyweight championship.

   

   

  

   

  Famous pose: Nani raises his fists in the air like Rocky

   

  United started their American tour with victory over Celtic in Toronto last week, and next face Philadelphia Union on Wednesday.

  They are preparing to make their 20th successive serious challenge to win the league title, and want to go further than their quarter-final Champions League appearance against Bayern Munich last term.

   

   

  

  Low blow: Nani and Edwin van der Sar have a mock fight